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If you’d like to comment on any of the info I’ve included, please do so here.
If you want to contact me, just add a comment on this page. I’ll get an email, and won’t post your comment if you’re just trying to reach me. Don’t send an email to this domain; I won’t get it.
It may take me a few weeks to review the comments, but I will get to them.
Thanks to everyone who’s added info already.
August 17th, 2009
Here’s some very useful new info I’ve found about progressive lens brands, and which ones are best for various uses. I’ll be adding these to the main site soon, but for now, here they are:
A lot of information and explanation
I believe this is a shorter version of the same raw data
For what it’s worth, I just got a pair of Essilor Super No–line, which is listed as one of the 5 best for distance vision (though one of the 5 worst for intermediate), and I’m happier with them than I’ve been with any of the others (including Varilux Comfort, Varilux Physio and Seiko Suceed) I’ve tried. But I don’t use mine for PC work or for much reading; what I wanted was good distance and at least being able to read with them if I have to.
September 20th, 2009
I just went to the eye doctor today and found out that I need progressive lenses. I have never worn glasses before so I went online to find out about progressive lenses. Your information was a lot of help. Thanks so much!
September 27th, 2009
I recently had my eyes checked at the local optician - a place I used for the first time. I had not had my eyes checked or lenses changed in two years. Optician said my RX had gone up by 2.0.
I wear progressives which have been great but i have had slight trouble seeing distance. After my recent checkup, the optician recommended Viralux and I went for the whole nine yards. the total cost after insurance was around $420. Well, I have had nothing but trouble with these new lenses. Vision is blurry, the transition is not smooth and I cannot see anything on my computer screen. After being told i had to “get used to the new lenses” I tried them for a couple of days with no improv ement except a terrible headache. I took it back and they said they would “re do” the lenses. After another week’s wait, they said it was ready but I have the same problem. The optician says I have to learn how to tilt my head and chin and I have given that a try for two days. No difference - when I am driving and I glance down at the speedometer, everything in my vision swims around like one of those funny mirrors. Can anyone suggest option I may have? Is this just a bad optician or is Varilux hard to get used to?! Thanks much. Crosseyed in california.
September 28th, 2009
Hi Jay,
If you’re used to progressives and you don’t like your new ones, I’d suggest going back to your optician and asking for a refund, then going somewhere else and asking for the same kind you used to have. I’ve found Varilux easier than the others to get used to, but everyone’s different. And maybe the optician you’re seeing is either doing a bad job of making your lenses, or they’re not really Varilux. You should be able to tell by the little markings. Every Varilux I’ve tried has a pretty smooth transition, so you should check that you really are getting Varilux. It could be any number of things, but if the optician’s best answer is that you need to get used to something that’s uncomfortable for you, I’d definitely try to get your money back and go to someone who’s more helpful.
October 6th, 2009
Hi,
What a terrific site. I’d wish I had seen it many months ago. For years I have worn single vision glasses (for distance) and have also been issued computer glasses.
After my last visit to the optician, it was not until I was being fitted for new glasses that I realized they were talking………. bifocals. I was hesitant to go along with it and hindsight being 20/20(no pun intended), I should have told them “no thanks” and just asked for the “usual”. They did ask about progressive lenses, but after a “nightmare” I had with those about 10 years ago, I told them to forget about it.
So, the new bifocals came and I was shocked. I tried for 3-4 months to adjust, but after 53 years on this planet, I could not get the lower portion out of my field of vision. It was worse that the Progressive experiment of 10 years ago. Bifocals were a disaster. I hated them with a passion and most of the time they stayed on the table or in their case. I am being kind here
After several exchanges with the opticians when I was still told I needed to give it time, I went back and asked to be re-checked and decided to “try” progressives. I was told the technology was better and that maybe even I was fitted wrong.
Well……..I got these progressives a couple of months back. Initally, I thought they were fine, but as time has gone by, I find they are oftentimes in the same places the bifocals were. I guess I have grown to “tolerate” them. But sometimes, the distance part (top) is not really clear for me. As my insurance allows, I will be going to another doctor (an actual eye doctor) in a few months for a checkup. I will ask to see if this script is right for my eyes at that time.
Now I have the bifocal lenses (wrapped in cloth in a drawer) and my “progressives” which I wear, but don’t really like. My wife thinks I’m nuts and being a pain. All I’m saying is……..”I can’t see like I used to see”!
Interested to hear what others might say. My own .002 cents: if you are “50ish” and you have something that works for your eyes, don’t “experiment” or take other recomendations. I wish I had stayed with single vision and computer glasses. In fact, I can say “thanks” to the &^%$^ bifocals and progressives, for really making reading blurry now - and it never was before! I think my eyesight is actually worse!
Thanks!
Joe
November 21st, 2009
You’re not whiny. I’ve had a slew of bad glasses, too, and I know how miserable they make your entire life. Thank you for all your information and the discussion from others. Your website is really helping me understand what my options are and what I should not have to just live with.
December 4th, 2009
Joe here from the 10/06/09 posting.
I went back yesterday to the opticians and asked them about two things.
1. Could they please clean them for me? These are the hardest glasses to clean and keep clean. After they cleaned them (and I thanked them) he asked me how everything else was - which lead to #2
2. I asked why is it that I still can’t see well? He asked me what it was that I was experiencing. I told him that sometimes things are faily clear, but most of the time everything seems just slightly out of focus. I also said all levels were blurry sometimes and that for reading - I do not use them………..aka they are useless. He said that what I was describing was to do with the lenses themselves - that is I had problems adjusting to them. He said that the next time I get a checkup, I would see their specialist Dr who would talk to me about all that has happened. This in the hope that they could fit me with the “best lenses possible.
Oh, and I did tell him that when I put on my old beat up single visions to watch TV, everything was clearer than it had been in a long, long time!!!!!!
I didn’t have the heart to say - yeah! Next time………That will be one pair of single vision for distance and another for computer/reading (for them because I see fine reading) - as I always had. Keep all your other glasses for other to try please!
I can’t even describe here how frustrated I have been through all of this. The bifocals were an abortion - now the progressives are awful and I think hurting my vision more. I have spent a lot of money on two pairs of glasses that are terrible! The saddest part is that probably 60-70% of the time I wear no glasses because everything is so unclear. I don’t imagine this is good for me!
As my insurance will allow, I will have another eyecheck after the first of the year with a “real eye Dr”. We will see what she says about this current prescription - as to how it relates to my eyes.
Again, if I can give any advice - if a person is “pushing” bifocals or progressive lenses on you and you’ve never had them, ask them is there is a trial period and what the return or exchange policy is also. Also, price out all the “options” they offer you. On the bifocals I had all kinds of “extras” that were useless. On the progressives, less bells and whistles and it shows too. Price it out and I would say if you have ANY………repeat……….ANY doubts, do yourself a favor and stay with what works!!
December 22nd, 2009
see added PS at end
I have read nothing about the various surgical (laser or not) methods of fixing Presbyopia on your website. Why?
Eg:
IntraCOR (www.technolaspv.com) using laser, reshapes cornea of both eyes into multifocal lenses. Aproved in most countries except USA
PresbyLASIK - monovision - use LASIK to make non-dominant eye good for near vision, while dominat eye is set for distant vision and the brain sorts the rest out
AcuFocus - type of contact lense put on one eye (monovision) that is opaique with a whole in the middle to allow eye to focus on near and far away things like a pin-hole camera
IOL (Inter-occular lense) - replace your natural lense with a multifocal lense (just like vari-focal glasses)
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) using redio-frequency to deform the cornea to make the non-dominant eye able to read books (near sighted) while the dominant eye remains used for distance
Only InterCOR allows you 100% to dispense with glsses (in the vast majority of cases). Longsighted people who are now over 40 and also have presbyopia (old man’s eye sight! - presby = old man in Greek)) can have both fixed with this one proceedure. Pass the word - Andrew
Information about these are easy to find on the internet - in Europe reshaping corneas into multifocal has been in developement for 10 years - mostly PresbyLASIK, but this has been replaced by the better IntraCOR (femtosecond) lasers these last couple of years. The Barraquer Ophthalmologic Clinic in Bogata, Colombia has also been pioneering this work - in the way that they were the first in the world to use lasers on corneas to improve eye sight
PS: According to 1 source (Dr. Alain Telandro, Cap-ophthalmologie.com, Cannes, France) over 10,000 people have been treated with PresbyLASIK and IntraCOR. 60% were successful initially after their 1st treatment. Now 85% are successful 1st time around and a further 10% after a 2nd treatment. Treatment usually lasts until lense replacement is needed due to cataract - though update treatments can be undergone as and when necessary. I’ve looked around for myself and have found costs from 1,500 - 2500 Euros per eye in Western Europe. I am now starting to look at Eastern Europe (Poalnd, Russia etc) as they have just started taking delivery of new IntraCOR machines and in my experience Eastern European clinics charge 50% less than Western European clinics because of average earnings being much less there - expertise is still good because of the Soviet history (where healthcare was artificially prioritised). My wife is Russian too!
Hope this helps
January 17th, 2010
Hi Ellen,
This is a very useful website with a lot of good information. Thank-you for maintaining it! I’ve had cataract and retinal surgery and am left with some image size and shape differences between the two eyes as well as some blank areas from myopic macular degeneration.
My optometrist is valiantly trying to fit me with progresssive glasses. The long article that you’ve provided a link to is very interesting. However, I’m not able to open the other link and wondered if you might have the name of the article so that I could access it through Google.
Thanks very much for your help with this.
Naoye
January 25th, 2010
I just got my first pair of progressives at Pro Optical. They are driving me crazy. I see better without them.
When driving at night, I get the feeling there is a smudge on my glasses ( and there is not); I can’t find the middle section (for computer work) and the reading portion is so small I can’t read a book. I see about 5 words
and that’s it. I have to move my head back and forth to read something. When going back to Pro Optical I was told this was normal and to give it a few more days. I have been asking around and everyone I speak to says this dosen’t seem right. What do you think? Does this sound normal. Pro Optical says if I don’t get used to them, I can go to a bifocal.
January 25th, 2010
Tina, NO - go back and complain. I would ask for a different brand of progressives - something like Varilux, if that’s not what you have. What you have sounds just like my first pair, like 10 years ago. You can get better ones.
Naoye - the article is at:
http://legacy.revoptom.com/index.asp?page=2_1529.htm
I will fix the link. Thanks.
February 5th, 2010
I have worn bifocals for years with no problems. I had an eye exam, and when I ordered new glasses, the optician talked me into progressives. I have worn a slab-off in one eye for years with no problems. Well, the new glasses are terrible. The area of focus is very narrow with distortion on both sides. In addition, the slab off ruins the smooth transition in that one lens. Also, I can’t see clearly to read without holding up the glasses and reading through the bottom 1/4 inch of the lens. I have been told I should try the glasses for “the 2-week period” that so many others mention. Can you even have progressive lens with a slab-off? Any suggestions?
February 19th, 2010
Hi Ellen. Thank-you for the link to the article. Both of the articles are very informative. Have you seen the article on progressive glasses on the Velocity Press website? I found that one helpful too.
Have you ever tried “variable focus” (aka “occupational”) computer glasses which I believe are progressive glasses with a range from reading out to about 7-10 feet? I’m wondering whether they would be good for near/intermediate situations like cooking, cleaning house or dining out (besides being good for working in an office, etc.). Perhaps vison beyond computer distance is not crisp enough for these other activities.
March 3rd, 2010
Follow-up to my 12/09 comment.
Went to “real eye Dr” and guess what?? My script is wrong! This doctor wrote me a new script and suggests I get single vision amd a computer pair - as I always had. I plan to complain to the previous optician, but I don’t think I will get any break. my eyes are so screwy right now, I can’t tell “up from down”.
Again, advice to folks…………if you have been happy with what you have, don’t let someone talk you into changing. Get another opinion. More importantly, ask why you can’t have what you always had!
Still frustrated………….
March 3rd, 2010
I have worn glasses all my life than I got old. I do not really feel that I need bifocals but it is hard to determine what i would see without them. I now have to take my glasses off to read small print, to read or do puzzles. No body seems to have an answer. I cannot find any markings on my lens like you describe. Can you help?
Thank you
March 4th, 2010
About 20 years ago I bought my first progressive lens glasses. I “accidently” got a wonderful pair that I had absolutely no problem with, even peripheral. The next time I went back to the same place and they were horrible. Kept going back and getting the “need to get used to them” even tho the others were perfect from the start. Finally got mad, threw them in the drawer and went back to my old ones. Eventually that wasn’t working so went to a different eye clinic (these are all actual doctors, covered by our insurance); same song, different verse, same outcome. Finally went to one that when I went back in “these aren’t right” mode started asking me questions. When I told her my very first pair (about 8 yrs prior) had been great, she asked me if I knew the brand of lense. Of course I didn’t so she called that clinic and specified the first pair I got not the 2nd. Turned out to be Super No-Line - she recut the same prescription on those lenses and they were perfect.
We moved and no longer had insurance so I went across the border to Mexico and had the same problem. Dr Garcia came up with the right lenses and I have had them 5 years. Just went back today and wanted to try the plastic Transitions (mine were always glass photograys) Well that didn’t work either and he is recutting them tomorrow on his last pair of glass Super No-Line. Don’t know what I will do the next time as he hasn’t been able to find them. I was researching for them when I found this site. If anyone can tell me a source of the glass lenses I would be grateful.
March 22nd, 2010
Follow-up to 12/9 and 3/3 comments.
Well, I got my new single vision glasses. while initially I thought they were better, now my eyes actually hurt - I have never had that before. And both eyes “twitch” from time to time. I put a call back into the “real doctor” I went to. I will try to ask what is going on and how they might suggest I get my eyes back to normal. I really think the change in prescription and the progressive glasse have screwed up my vision.
Again: I feel strongly that if what you are doing works, get a couple of opinions before you buy into anything.
This has been a very, very expensive exercise and the bottom line is: I can’t see as well as I used to!
March 22nd, 2010
Janet, I now have Super No-Line too, and am liking them better than any of the other progressives I’ve tried. I don’t know if anyone in the U.S. will give you glass lenses, but you might try “regular” (that is, NOT high-index or polycarbonate) plastic. My good optician says those are the best I can do now. Good luck with it.
Sarah, I think only progressives have the markings. If you have to take your glasses off to read, you probably need progressives, bifocals or reading glasses. Which one you pick is up to you.
March 22nd, 2010
Joe, that’s so similar to what happened to me when I first got progressives. My eyes hurt after I used my PC for a few hours in a row until I found my great optometrist who figured out I wasn’t converging that well and told me to lower my monitor, which was just so much better.
I still won’t wear my progressives for any amount of reading or working on my PC - I have separate PC glasses and reading glasses. My progressives just let me do stuff like see the dashboard when I drive, or read labels when I shop. It’s a hassle always switching, but I can see and am not in pain.
Anyway, I hope you find someone who can help you. I went through 6 optometrists before I found the one who helped me, and I’ll only let him (himself, not an assistant) or one good local optician make my glasses.
May 26th, 2010
Thanks for this site!!
I am 46 and just got some new glasses at the Eyecare store.
Looking for ideas..
Firstly what I have going on.. about 3 weeks ago
1. I got some high end Crizal Alize progressives with AR/AG for glare reduction, with Transistions VI.
* I love the transition lenses as long as you not behind car windshield glass (UV filter) they darken quickly and appropriately to the lighting conditions and recover quickly back to clear when not needed very cool!
- They work ok for reading and are good for distance driving BUT… suck royally for Computer office use…. as the band of lens that works for this power is at the bottom so you have to really tilt your head up and it causes neck strain/headaches etc..
2. I also got perscription sunglasses with same progressive Rx not sure who the mfg. is but they even after using many hours make me sick to my stomach..?? Need to exchange these for another solution before I get stuck with these….
This week
3. Some good news I guess! After arguing with my Optician (who seems to not listen??) she recommended I get Computer/Office glasses… but I was running low on FSA funds… so I consulted the Walmart Vision Center close to my work.
* They were have a sale for Continuum Computer Lenses (By Sola/Ziess) for reading and to about 10′ distance… $90.00 - and nice Modern frames usually $80.00 for $28.00 - These lenses are designed for folks like me that work in an office/cube environment using computers and or reading documents 6-8hrs+ a day.
- These work excellent as long as you do not need beyond 8′- 10′
OK so I am getting by….. at least headaches are gone
May questions:
1) I really think I need to ditch the sunglasses - what should I replace them with? If a perfect solution is possible I would have glasses that got very dark when needed even in car … and work better at intermediate distances..
Maybe this is just state of technology and I just need another progressive lens brand than whatever is in sunglasses?? but still trying to find as close as possible a 1 pair solution if possible and maybe a reader has solved this puzzle.
Thanks for your support!
Randy
August 19th, 2010
Can you advise me how to look for an optician in Northern New Mexico (e.g. Santa Fe or Albuquerque) who could provide Essilor lenses? A few locals I have tried indicate ‘No comprende”. The last three pairs of Progressives, prescribed by Eye Associates in Santa Fe, have been very unsatisfactory (I do not know the brand). Then I tried a type called AtLast - a so-called blended bifocal - also unsatisfactory. The glasses which prove satisfactory to me, blended bifocals, and which are still the most comfortable after almost ten years, were dispensed by a company located in Torrance, California, now defunct, named Optrometric Vision Center. I believe Optrometrics procured their lenses from Heard Optical located in Long Beach, California. I have contacted Heard Optical but have received no response. The Heard Optical web site indicates that they have been assimilated into Essilor, thus my interest Essilor. Also the very good experience which you yourself describe with Essilor lenses really peaks my interest. Thank you for any leads you could provide towards making connection with Essilor .
August 23rd, 2010
Hi George,
Try this page:
http://www.variluxusa.com/About-Varilux/Pages/Find-a-Provider.aspx
Essilor is Varilux, or makes them.
Good luck,